The U16 Alpine Team (and two athletes from the FIS Team) recently returned from a seven-day training camp in Druskininkai, Lithuania. The camp focused on skill development, training volume, and team connection. It also marked a strong start to the season.
A big thank you goes to Tyler Shepherd for organizing the entire camp from overseas. The logistics and planning were well-executed, and the camp ran smoothly from start to finish.
The team also appreciated the work of Ann West, Bode Flanigan, and Geoff Stephenson. Bode and Geoff played key support roles throughout the week, both on and off the hill.
Bode Flanigan led daily warm-ups and breathing exercises in the mornings. On snow, he introduced eye-tracking drills to help athletes improve reactivity. His steady and supportive presence helped keep the group focused.
Geoff Stephenson (Jackson’s dad) crushed in the tuning room, hand-tuning many, many pairs of skis. He tuned a total of 210 pairs of skis, often twice a day, and handled many technical tasks like gate repair and hill setup. He also contributed coaching input during sessions and team meetings.
Focused Training and High Volume
The team made the most of every session. Over six days of training, athletes completed 4,240 slalom turns in gates, in addition to warm-up runs. For perspective, that’s nearly 25% of a full season’s training volume for a typical U16 program.
Key Concepts Covered
- Tactical Focus:
- Taking the turn “out” to build pressure in the fall line
- Creating space at the gate to drive through the turn
Technical Focus:
- Keeping hips square to the skis at the top of the turn
- Starting movements from the ground up — ankles and knees
- Executing a balanced transition by extending the feet away from the body
- These themes were repeated throughout the week to build consistency and understanding.
Encouraging Self-Coaching
Athletes are encouraged to reflect on the camp while the experience is still fresh. Writing down key takeaways, breakthroughs, and cues can help with goal setting, self-awareness, and motivation.
The athletes made solid progress in Druskininkai. With a strong foundation in place, the group is well-prepared for the next phase of the season.
